Friday, May 29, 2009

With news that Peaches and Herb has a new album set to debut, "Colors of Love", I look forward to a new generation yelling "Hey Herb, where's Peaches?"

Gee, haven't heard that in a week or two. No really this is great news! Is it possible that it's been 30 years since "Reunited" topped the charts?

As I wrote about last year in a somewhat blind item "The Greatest Blog Post I Didn't Write", Herb (Fame) Feemster has kept his job all along at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, where he works as a deputized court security officer for the U.S. Marshals Service.

In honor of TGIF and their new album, today I will shake my groove thing, shake my groove thing, yeah, yeah.The new CD may be ordered here.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day, hundreds of members of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs from around the country rally at the African American Civil War Memorial in Shaw to lay a wreath at the Memorial's Wall of Honor which lists the names of 200,000 + African American troops who served in the Civil War. The clubs are named in honor of the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, which were comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, who first served in the U.S. Army during peacetime after the Civil War.

A couple of hours of inspiring speakers, pageantry, music, costumes and house-shaking noise from hundreds of motorbikes, so what was missing? Well mostly the neighborhood. Sadly I was one of a handful non-club members present. The rally was held at the plaza at top of one of the U Street Metro exits but still the reaction of people arriving to the surface was a blase "Oh, look hundreds of bikers. Now which way to Ben's?"

So I represented. And darn well!

This rally appropriately takes place in Shaw since the neighborhood is named for Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837-July 1863) who was the commander of the all African American 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry which entered the Civil War in 1863. Col. Shaw and his troops were the subject of 1989 film "Glory."After the cermony the Buffalo soldiers queued up and rode to the Mall to join the better known "Rolling Thunder: Ride for Freedom."

One of the costumed ushers

The Buffalo Soldiers arrive!

Most are wearing the black and gold club colors

Bikes lined up on Vermont during the ceremony

The laying of the Wreath Ceremony

After the ceremony, the bikers head to the Mall.

Copy of the General Order 143 "Establishing the U.S. Colored Troops" that was handed out to the crowd: (click to enlarge)

Friday, May 15, 2009

All the neighborhood blogs are posting the video of the Universal Gear robbery so I may as well join the fray, although I doubt if my tens of readers move in the right circles to spot the criminals. But if you see your local thug wearing a $79.50 pair of ChaCha Boy Silver Print Swim Briefs or a Diesel Sleeveless V-Neck Hoodie you might want to call 911. It's sad that despite the renaissance of 14th St, punks like this can still terrorize small businesses with impunity.

NBC4 is running this video as part of its newscasts so hopefully these crooks will get caught soon.

There is a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of these criminals. Contact info@universalgear.com or call at 202-319-0136 with any information.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Is Rule Number One spreading the word to your large and engaged populace via Social Media like Facebook? Making sure your protest signs are colorful and eye catching? Contacting the Main Stream Media in advance for coverage? Obtaining sponsors for food and water?

Nope.

Rule Number One is double checking to ensure that your protest takes place at the correct address. We were all mystified when you showed up today waving your signs at us and snapping our pictures while we pulled out our camera phones and returned the photo fusillades. We mostly agree with your demands but regardless there is little we can do beyond what any other American citizens can do.

It was a little embarrassing and uncomfortable since you seemed so passionate and sincere. It was almost like telling the guests at your surprise birthday party that your birthday was last October but thanks anyway and by the way, you are allergic to chocolate cake.

You left after about an hour and hopefully someone had provided you with the correct organization address. Similar sounding names, different missions, different addresses. It's so DC, isn't it?

Friday, May 8, 2009

Chickengate just continues to get sillier and sillier due to the Oprah Winfrey show's promotion of a coupon for two free pieces of KFC's new Kentucky Grilled Chicken.

KFC, in what is looking to be an epic-sized PR disaster, has announced that it will no longer honor the coupon; however, customers may "...visit a participating KFC restaurant for a rain check form. Complete the form, attach your original coupon, and give it to the KFC restaurant manager or postmark per the form's instructions, by May 19, 2009, and we'll send you a rain check for your free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal at a later date, plus a free Pepsi with our compliments."

All righty!

Based upon the comments on Oprah.com newly entitled chicken fans can't decide whether to call fowl on Oprah, KFC or both:

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could not redeem my coupon, it seem Hawaii is not part of the United States,and KFC would not accept the coupon. sad isn't it, we can make presidents, but can't get chicken.

KFC manager in was very rude! I will NEVER go into a KFC again. Shame on Oprah for promoting humiliation.

The KFC in my town closed down! They ran out of chicken and I was told that my coupon was not valid any longer. I did not get a free meal nor did I get a raincheck..what do I do?

Could Oprah ask the KFC guy about the people who's coupon didn't print? Clicked the link "trouble printing". Said they would get in contact..not. Debbi

KFC scalds animals to death and slits the throats of full conscious chickens. Oprah was a friend to animals last year, but has lost that title.

Take your PETA crap elsewhere, we don't want to hear it infact I am going to go buy a 20 piece bucket just to spite you!

-Hurt by KFC- I think allot of people myself included are hurt that KFC couldn't honor there commitment and turned away allot of hungry family's in need!

I don't blame Oprah,KFC used her.I feel a boycott maybe coming for KFC.It's interesting how they would sell the grilled chicken to you, but not give it to you for free!

My friend tried to use one a couple days afterwards and was treated SO rudely that she even asked him if he wanted her to step outside the restaurant to fight! NOT WORTH IT AT ALL!

Hi Opray, I just thought that I would gladly thank you for a car if you want to give me one. God Bless

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In the meantime in a brilliant stroke of counter-marketing, chicken competitor Ell Pollo Loco asks "What Does KFC Have Against Moms?"

Plus, did you talk to your Help Desk staff at Harpo productions? Are you aware that some computer users have difficulties performing such simple tasks as downloading and printing out coupons? Who do you think they are going to blame when they have problems?

Apparently not all KFC restaurants are participating in this promotion and the ones that are are overwhelmed. Earlier today, a hungry mob of New Yorkers staged a '60s-style sit-in at a Manhattan KFC restaurant that refused to participate.